Please pray for Hazel Roberts, wife of Jim Roberts who pastors the GCI congregation in San Leandro, CA. Hazel was taken to the hospital recently, having lost most of her mobility. This condition is apparently due to restriction of blood flow to the brain, though her doctors are still running tests. It is anticipated that [...]
On Sunday September 25, members of the GCI/WCG congregation in Manchester, England combined with members of the St. Andrew’s Church for a joint Back to Church service. The previous Saturday leaflets were distributed to homes in the area. The leaflet featured an article by GCI member David Bedford describing his impressions when he first started attending [...]
The following report is from Kalengule Kaoma, GCI Missions Director for much of Africa. Rwanda Many church groups in Rwanda have written to Grace Communion International for affiliation, financial support, prayer and other spiritual needs. Recently, I traveled to Kigali, capital city of Rwanda where I met the leaders who have written GCI. On October 1 I [...]
We are delighted to report two recent elder ordinations and a pastor commissioning. Gary Glenister of the South Wales (UK) congregation and Nestor Guspodarchuk of the Winnepeg (Canada) congregation were recently ordained as elders. With the unanimous support of the elders and other congregational leaders, Lynn Lawrence was commissioned as the new pastor of the Montreal [...]
The following report is from George Hart, pastor of Christ Community Church (CCC), one of GCI’s congregations in Cincinnati, OH. For the third year in a row, CCC reached out to the community around our church hall the Sunday before Thanksgiving with Thanksgiving meals. The meals included all the traditional Thanksgiving trimmings and a gift [...]
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, When I read Scripture these days I do so through a “trinitarian lens” and then I think about how what I find applies to our contemporary context. Recently, I was reading Isaiah chapter 40 in that way. It struck me that what I saw (a message of hope) is [...]
Good News Fellowship, the GCI congregation in Nashville, TN (pastored by Jonathan Stepp) hosts Community Cafe following its worship service each Sunday. The purpose of the Cafe is to feed homeless people with both food and the hope of the good news of God’s grace. Some homeless or otherwise disadvantaged people walk to the Cafe. [...]
We received word that our members in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo were being exposed to danger due to violence surrounding the recent elections. As far as we know, none of our members were injured, but we request prayer for their safety.
On September 2, GCI members from Luanda visited Bengo Catete, which is 44 kilometers away. Their goal was to strengthen the members of a new congregation of immigrants being led by Pastor Fragoso. This congregation has 32 members, including children. The group gathered for worship, meeting in the shade of a large tree. After a sermon [...]
The December issue of Equipper is now available online at http://mindev.gci.org/Web%20Documents/Equipper6.12.pdf. This issue is devoted to helping congregations prepare for the New Year.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, To those in the U.S., happy Thanksgiving! And to everyone, warm Advent greetings! As you know, this Sunday (November 27) is the first of the four Sundays in the Advent season, which is followed by Christmas (also a Sunday this year). Advent celebrates the coming into our world of [...]
Dr. John McKenna is doctrinal advisor to Grace Communion International and a Grace Communion Seminary faculty member. In the video below, John tells his story about writing poetry, and shares a short new poem that he wrote in response to a service on the tenth anniversary of 9-11.
Anthony Mullins who leads GCI Generations Ministries (GenMin) camps and mission trips, submitted the following report. 2011 was a fruitful year! Through the devoted work of 811 volunteer staff we conducted 16 camps and eight short-term mission trips. Through these events we were blessed to join with Jesus in touching the lives of 1098 teens [...]
Bill and Kathy Miller are happy to announce the arrival of their first grandchild, Ethan Benjamin Mills, born on October 30 to Jamin and Elizabeth (Miller) Mills. All are happy and doing well. Bill is the senior pastor of Christian Family Fellowship, the GCI congregation that meets in Kenmore, WA.
GCI in the United States advocates the formation of evangelistic small groups referred to as FaithTalk groups. The CAD Ministry Development Team provides online training and resourcing for these groups (go to http://faithtalkgroups.blogspot.com/). The following report is from Tom Kennebeck, pastor of GCI’s Northland Community Church in Orr, MN. Tom reports on the FaithTalk group recently [...]
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In the United States, next Thursday (November 24) is the annual Thanksgiving holiday. I know that many of our congregations will have special Thanksgiving-themed services the weekend before or after. Perhaps some will read from the following proclamation from U.S. President Abraham Lincoln establishing a national day of “Thanksgiving [...]
As is the case in other parts of the world, our churches in South Africa are facing difficult financial circumstances due to the global recession. Tim Maguire, the national ministry leader, along with the members of the South African church board, request your prayers for wisdom and guidance as they decide how to wisely steward [...]
The following is from an article titled, ”Amphibious Christians Make the Best Contemporary Evangelists” by Anglican Bishop and professor Todd Hunter, published online in the Alpha Library. It is shared with us by Jim and Becky Valekis who serve the GCI congregation in Tipp City, OH. Jim is senior pastor and Becky coordinates discipleship ministries. They [...]
The following report is from GCI member Mary Fozard: With our nation facing a weak economy, churches wonder what they can do to help. Despite being small, aging and short on funds, New Beginnings, the GCI congregation in Hickory, N.C found a way – it’s a ministry they have named Children’s Closet. It began in early [...]
The following report is from Gary Moore, national director for GCI in Canada. For health reasons, Alan Redmond will be stepping aside at the end of this year as District Superintendent of our western Canadian churches. He will continue to pastor our Winnipeg and Thunder Bay congregations. Alan has done a great job as a [...]
Great Commission Trips, a Generations Ministries mission, is announcing that they are offering a two-week long mission trip to Hyderabad, India that will be held on August 2-16, 2012 and led by Janet Morrison. Participants will work alongside members of the GCI congregation in Hyderabad serving children at a school, at church and in an [...]
GCI’s Wichita, Kansas congregation is planning its 50th anniversary to be held on December 4, 2011 at their regular meeting place – Youth Horizons, 1601 East Douglas, Wichita, KS. The celebration will begin with a worship service at 10:30 a.m., followed by a very nice meal with special presentations. There is no cost for attending. [...]
Lee Berger who leads the Generations Ministries Crossing Borders mission submitted this update concerning their upcoming mission trip to Mexico: I have exciting news! As some of you know, we’ll be heading to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on December 9-11 for our shoebox delivery mission trip. This is always a wonderful event, but especially this year [...]
In this occasional feature of GCI Weekly Update, we will profile some of our GCI members. This time we meet Alisha Austin, a young member in our Queens, NY congregation. In addition to her ministry within the congregation, Alisha is busily preparing for a career. Here is what she writes about herself: I am a [...]
Here is a prayer update from Rex Dela Pena, one of our pastors in the Philippines: My family and I would like to express our deep gratitude for the prayers lifted for my mom during her 36-day confinement. She was discharged on November 8 and is recuperating at home. Thank you very much for showing [...]
The following report is from Rod Matthews, GCI’s Mission Director for Southern Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Papua New Guinea I met recently with Pastor Gabriel Mumuga who leads Papua New Guinea Ministries, a network of 25 non-GCI churches located in a rugged and remote part of PNG’s Central Highlands. Pastor Mumuga has been [...]
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: Thank you so much for the many thoughtful expressions of love that Tammy and I received during pastor appreciation month! Believe me, it is our sincere joy and privilege to serve alongside you in the ministry of Jesus Christ. I returned recently from our annual GCI festivals in France [...]
Video and audio recordings of lectures from theologian, Dr. Elmer Colyer on “Participatory, Trinitarian Christian Faith” are now posted on the GCI website at http://www.gci.org/pastoral/colyerconf2011. These lectures were delivered at the 2011 GCI Canadian National Conference in Ottawa.
About 400 people attended the GCI Dells Celebration held in Wisconsin Dells, WI on September 29-October 2. The theme of “Lord, what are you up to?” was developed in messages and workshops from Willard High, Stephen Hill, Anthony Mullins, Tracy Porter, Dave and Linda Holmes, Sam Butler and Doug Johannsen. Audio recordings of most of [...]
We are saddened to learn of the death of Anne-Marie Kennedy. She died on November 7 from abdominal cancer. Her daughter informed us that she was with her family until the very end in the house that she loved. Anne-Marie was married to GCI pastor John Kennedy who died several years ago after a very long battle [...]
From October 27-30, 17 people gathered for the first Odyssey in Christ spiritual formation retreat at the Pine Lake Retreat Center in Groveland, FL. After many years of personal experience, study and research in the area of spiritual formation retreats, GCI district pastor Larry Hinkle designed a retreat to help pastors and ministry leaders experience [...]
Members from the Philippines attended the annual Philippine Festival on October 28-31 in Cagayan de Oro City (with simultaneous celebrations in Bukidnon, Manila and Davao). The festivals followed the GCI Philippines 2011 national theme, “Growing Together in His Love.” Festival highlights at the main site included worship services, a Trinitarian theology forum, variety show, family day, [...]
The following report is from John Halford. When Ambassador University in Big Sandy closed its doors in 1997, the local people might have thought they had seen the last of our church. Only a small congregation continued to meet in the area, pastored from neighboring Longview. Then in 2002, Sonny Parsons and his wife Jane [...]
Roy Page, GCI’s pastor in Vancouver and Prince George, Canada recently had a heart attack while visiting one of his daughters in the B.C. interior. He was hospitalized and released. Here is an update from Roy: We have just returned home, and I am feeling fine. I’m not allowed to drive for 30 days and [...]
The following note is from Bernie Schnippert. Recently I gave a health update in which I mentioned being on a new drug which may or may not help my cancer (carcinoid, beginning near the small intestine and traveling to my liver) and which I may or may not be able to tolerate. Unfortunately, on Friday [...]
A recent report in GCI Weekly Update told of the work of our San Fernando, CA church in starting a new satellite congregation that meets in Los Angeles. We are pleased to report that this new Spanish-speaking congregation held its grand opening worship service on October 23. Here is a report from pastor and church planter [...]
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: An interesting map appeared recently in USA Today. Based on research by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, it shows the distribution of faith groups in the United States. I find it of interest to note that Evangelical Protestants are the United States’ largest faith group. You may [...]